Ty Rattie scored the winning goal midway through the third period to provide the heroics before a season-high crowd of 16,005 — the Wolves' largest since 16,019 on April 11, 2009.

"With a crowd like this and a big rivalry like Rockford, we wanted a big win," said Rattie, who scored his team-leading 13th goal. "It was one of our best team games in a while. We deserved that one."

The Wolves outshot the IceHogs 36-24, including 13-4 in the second period. But neither team scored to change the 1-1 tie after the first period. It wasn't until the 12 minute, 31 second mark of the final period that Rattie was able to get one past Jason LaBarbera.

Rattie deflected a shot from Dmitrij Jaskin that went in off the post for his third game-winning goal of his rookie season, tying him with Jaskin for the team lead.

"I didn't really see the puck, I just had my stick down and (the puck went) off my stick, off the post," Rattie said. "I'll take them any way they come."

One night after giving up three power-play goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto, the Wolves killed all four short-handed situations, including one with just more than two minutes remaining.

Goalie Jake Allen was tested throughout the final period, but kept the puck out of the net to finish with 23 saves.

"We found a way to score a goal — put enough shots (on net) something has to go in," Wolves coach John Anderson said. "The guys kept going, stayed with the things we were doing, and it was very successful."